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Maize farming guide — Kenya

Soil requirements, top counties, seed varieties, fertilizer plan & economics

Interested in starting or scaling maize farming in Kenya? This comprehensive guide maps out the optimal soil requirements (such as target pH ranges), the most suitable counties for growing maize, certified seed varieties, seasonal fertilizer guidelines, and a detailed per-acre production budget to set you up for a successful harvest.

Soil requirements

pH range
5.5–7
Nitrogen
high
Phosphorus
high
Potassium
medium
Preferred texture: Loam

Optimizing soil and fertilizers for Maize in Kenya

To achieve maximum yields when farming maize in Kenya, managing soil suitability is crucial. This crop performs best within a soil pH range of 5.5 to 7. Soils that fall outside this range can lock out essential macro and micro-nutrients, leading to stunted growth or crop failure. For acidic soils, applying dolomitic or calcitic agricultural lime is recommended at least 30 days before planting to normalize acidity.

Fertilizer application should be calibrated based on the crop’s nutrient demands. Maize has a high nitrogen requirement, high phosphorus requirement, and medium potassium demand. Using certified seed varieties suited for your specific altitude and rainfall pattern, combined with a precise basal and top-dressing program (such as applying CAN at Week 4–6 after germination), ensures high crop quality and protects your overall farm investment.

Best counties for Maize

#1NakuruRift Valley93#2NandiWestern Highlands93#3NarokRift Valley93#4Uasin GishuRift Valley93#5BaringoRift Valley92#6BometRift Valley92#7Elgeyo MarakwetRift Valley92#8Trans NzoiaWestern Highlands92#9West PokotRift Valley92#10KajiadoSemi-Arid Eastern87

Challenging counties for Maize

These counties may need soil amendments for Maize

Mandera5Wajir7Garissa13Turkana17Marsabit17

Certified seed varieties

H614Highland
Kenya Seed Company · 180-240 days · 35-40 bags/acre
Excellent grain quality; tolerant to common blights.
H6218Highland
Kenya Seed Company · 170-210 days · 38-42 bags/acre
High yielding; strong stalk preventing lodging.
H513Medium Altitude
Kenya Seed Company · 120-150 days · 25-30 bags/acre
Fast maturing; good performance in transitional climates.
Katumani Composite BDryland
KALRO · 90-120 days · 15-18 bags/acre
Highly drought-tolerant; ensures harvest in low rainfall.
DH04Dryland
KALRO · 90-110 days · 18-22 bags/acre
Extremely fast maturing; escapes late-season heat stress.
H625Highland
Kenya Seed Company · 150-180 days · 32-40 bags/acre
Frost tolerant; resistant to grey leaf spot and northern blight; suited to cold highlands 1800-2500m.
H6213Highland
Kenya Seed Company · 150-200 days · 40-54 bags/acre
High yielding; excellent ear rot and GLS resistance; large cobs; good standability 1500-2100m.
H626Highland
Kenya Seed Company · 150-190 days · 40-50 bags/acre
Semi-dent; stays green at harvest for dual grain and fodder use; resistant to GLS.
H628Highland
Kenya Seed Company · 150-195 days · 31-50 bags/acre
Late maturity; suited to cold and wet highland conditions 1600-2300m; good disease tolerance.
H629Highland
Kenya Seed Company · 150-190 days · 36-45 bags/acre
Good standability; stays green; high potential highland zone 1500-2100m.
H623Medium/Highland
Kenya Seed Company · 120-150 days · 31-40 bags/acre
Resistant to blight rust and grey leaf spot; good husk cover; medium altitude 1400-1700m.
H516Lowland
Kenya Seed Company · 80-110 days · 13-22 bags/acre
Drought tolerant; MSV tolerant; suited for coastal and semi-arid lowlands below 1200m.
DH01Dryland
Kenya Seed Company · 90-120 days · 27-40 bags/acre
Drought tolerant; MSV tolerant; semi-arid adapted 0-1500m; good for low-input farmers.
DH02Dryland/Medium
Kenya Seed Company · 90-120 days · 27-40 bags/acre
MSV and GLS tolerant; drought tolerant; widely adapted to low-medium altitude 0-1500m.
DH03Dryland
Kenya Seed Company · 90-120 days · 13-22 bags/acre
Drought tolerant; tolerant to leaf diseases; suitable for dryland short second season.
WH403Medium
Western Seed Company · 120-150 days · 28-35 bags/acre
Prolific; excellent GLS and rust tolerance; good for silage; medium altitude 1200-1600m.
WH507Medium/Highland
Western Seed Company · 130-160 days · 27-40 bags/acre
Tolerant to leaf diseases; good standability; widely adapted medium to high altitude 1000-1700m.
Ukamez-2Dryland/Medium
KALRO · 90-110 days · 21-41 bags/acre
KEPHIS certified; drought tolerant; GLS and MSV resistant; dry mid altitude Eastern Kenya 800-1600m.
Ukamez-1Dryland
KALRO · 85-100 days · 18-22 bags/acre
KEPHIS certified; early maturing; drought tolerant; suited to ASALs in Eastern Kenya.
Embu-537Medium/Highland
KALRO · 120-140 days · 28-32 bags/acre
Medium altitude composite; consistent yield under Central Kenya conditions.
KH500-48ADryland/Medium
KALRO · 90-110 days · 20-25 bags/acre
KALRO open-pollinated hybrid; heat tolerant; widely adapted in eastern regions.
FAWTH2001Medium/Highland
CIMMYT/KALRO · 130-150 days · 32-38 bags/acre
MLN-tolerant; developed in response to Maize Lethal Necrosis; KEPHIS listed.
FAWTH2002Medium/Highland
CIMMYT/KALRO · 125-145 days · 30-36 bags/acre
MLN-tolerant; CIMMYT East Africa release; grey leaf spot resistant.
FAWTH2003Medium/Highland
CIMMYT/KALRO · 120-140 days · 28-34 bags/acre
MLN-tolerant; combined resistance package; suited to highland Kenya.

Planting calendar

Long Rains

Month 1
Sowing & Basal Fertilizer (DAP/NPK)
Month 2
Top Dressing (CAN/Urea) & 1st Weeding
Month 3
Crop Protection & Scouting

Short Rains

Month 1
Fast Sowing & Basal Fertilizer
Month 2
Top Dressing & Weeding
Month 3
Fast Growth Scouting

Dry Season

Month 1
Land Preparation & Manure
Month 2
Soil Testing & Resting
Month 3
Seed Selection & Storage

Economics

Market priceKES 38/kg
Expected yield1,000 kg/acre
Est. revenueKES 38,000/acre

Top dressing

Product: CAN
Timing: Week 4–6 after germination
Bags/acre: 1

When plant is knee-high broadcast between rows

Fertilizer prices

DAPKES 2,500
CANKES 2,500
NPK 17:17:17KES 2,500
UreaKES 2,500
LimeKES 1,500

Subsidized price / 50kg bag

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